Turning Your Worries into Prayers

Turning Your Worries into Prayers

Marilynn ChadwickBy Marilynn Chadwick3 Minutes

Stop worry from robbing you of your rest.

“Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything…” – Philippians 4:6 NLT

Do you have a problem with worry? Are you exhausted from worrying about everything from your family, to the economy, to the condition of the nation or the world?

Well, here’s some good news: The Lord has given us a secret weapon to use against anxiety. He tells us we can overcome worry through prayer.

I happen to be a world-class worrier. I didn’t have to learn how to worry. It just came naturally as a by-product of an overactive imagination, a curious mind, and a relentless memory.

Marriage and a family only brought more responsibility, and therefore more things to worry about.

I agree with my friend who defines worry with the acronym…W.O.R.R.Y Worry-Only-Robs-Rest-from-You. It’s true. Worry is exhausting.

Replacing Our Worries

As one who is prone to worry, I’m inspired by Paul’s letter to some persecuted Christians in the town of Philippi. They were always in danger of getting killed, and therefore had lots to worry about. “Don’t worry about anything,” he encouraged them. “Instead, pray about everything.”

I’m struck by that word “instead.” Paul didn’t just say to stop worrying. He said that instead of worrying, we should pray. He tells us to redirect all that furious, anxious energy into prayer and intercession. To make worry work for us instead of against us!

I get that concept. It sounds like a trick I learned back in high school when I took karate in between sports seasons. I was taught to use the enemy’s energy against him. A violent attack could be redirected to incapacitate my attacker.

The Bible reminds us that we’re in a daily spiritual battle. And, similar to the trick I learned in high school, prayer is one way to use the devil’s energy against him.

Redirecting Our Energy

Something amazing happens when we use all the energy on prayer that we once used for worry. We begin to experience gratitude and peace, instead of anxiety.

Paul puts it this way: “Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.” Then, “If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).

So the next time you are tempted to worry, try redirecting all that energy into prayer! The result will be God’s supernatural peace.

“Something amazing happens when we use all the energy on prayer that we once used for worry.”